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Title: Thomas A. Brown Collection
Dates: 1840s-1890s
Collection Number: 2020.16
Creator/Collector:
Thomas A. Brown
Extent: 9 document boxes, 5 microfilms, 1 index
Repository:
Contra Costa County Historical Society
Martinez, California 94553
Abstract: This is a personal archive of pioneer attorney and political leader, Thomas A. Brown.
Language of Material: English
This collection is open for research
Thomas A. Brown Collection. Contra Costa County Historical Society
Originally a collection at the Contra Costa County Library.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection was part of a personal archive of pioneer attorney and political leader of Contra Costa County, Thomas A.
Brown, covering material from 1847-1885. He was a county judge from 1856-64 and from 1874-80. He served in the State Assembly
1864-68. He was a candidate for U.S. Senate and a judge of the Superior Court of Contra Costa County. He also practiced law
in Martinez.
The collection contains letters, notes, deeds, mortgages, and other legal documents from many of the early pioneers and settlers
of the county. Such names include Horace Allen, Mathew R Barber, Elam Brown, Horace W. Carpentier, Joseph Emerick, Hiram Mills,
Napoleon B Smith, Joseph Swanson, and Francis M Warmcastle.
There are also documentary material concerning Mexican Land Grants in the county, particularly Rancho Acalanes, Rancho Arroyo
de las Nueces y Bolbones, Rancho Boca de la Canada del Pinole, Rancho Canada de los Vaqueros, Rancho Canada del Hambre y las
Bolsas del Hambre, Rancho San Antonio, Rancho San Pablo, Rancho San Ramon, and Rancho El Sobrante.
Political papers include election returns, petitions, manuscript legislative acts, opinions and briefs, and other legal papers.
Other topics include education, transportation and mining in the county.
Correspondence
court artifacts
Mexican Land Grants
election